Improvement in fire-proof beams, floors, and ceilings



` To` alta/hom it maycogncem:

`Be it known that we, IsAnc Honesoiv and `WILLIAM H. BROWN, of Indianapolis,` in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have jointly invented new and useful Improvements p in the Construction of Fire-Proof Beams, i Floors, and Ceilings; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and `eractdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawingandtotheletters of referencemarked `thereon making part of i `this specification.

rIhis invention relates to the arrangement Y i ot' iron iioorLbeams insuch manner that the .-,iloorinay be secured to the upper edge and the plastering to the `lower edge ofi the iron i iioor beams direct without the interposition of. any wood in the construction.

l i Figure l is a perspective view of -our improvement, showing the arrangement of the several parts, arrangedlwith reference to the application or; our improvements. Thedrawing represent-s a portion of a completed iloor .and ceiling; Fig. f2 is a full-sized section through the upper edgeof the licor-beam, showing the grooved `plates between which the nailfor securing the iloor is held and slides, headdown, with the flange for supporting the corrugated ironupon which the concrete rests 5 c `totheiron beams. Fig. is a longitudinal section through the saidgroovedplates, showt ing the nail in -posit-ion and driven into the Hoor-board; showing also the flanges D restg upon the top of the beam A. Fig. 4 is a pective view `ot' the ooring-nail or dog dinthe construction. Fig. 5 is a full secon, showing the form ofthe corrugated iron, ing upon the flangerolled in connection t with the grooved plat 1d designed for the "supportot' the `concre nder the door. Fig. `6 shows theiron strip or suspender riveted to the lower edge of `the beam, and-punched for the `reception of the lath`s5 also a section of the laths. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectionwof the t suspender, with a portion of the lower edge ofthe beam, showing the laths in position in 4the suspender, with the mode of joining the laths, by slipping one into the other. i Similar letters of reference indicate like parts inthe several figures.

also the manner ofsecuring the grooved plates ISAAC HODGSONQAND W'ILLIAM H. BROWN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA..

mipaovswisnrm FIRE-sucios BEAMS, FLo'oRs, `.aan canines.

Specification forming partici' Letters Patent No. 115,472, dated May 30, 1871.

The followi g description will enable skilled artisans to makeand use our invention.

. A is the iron door-beam, ofsuch thickness and depth as `circumstances may require, to the upper edge of which are riveted the iron grooved plates B, one upon each side, (shown insection at Fig. 2 and longitudinally at Fig. 3,) with their iianges C turned at 'right angles l.tothe perpendicular section ofthe beam, the anges D resting upon the top of the beam at the top of the beam, with the point turned at right angles tothe beam to insert it in the groove, and then turned to theproper position and slide freely. G is the corrugated iron (shown in section inFig. 5 and longitudinallyin'Fig) extending between the door-beams, and resting upon and riveted to the flange C, Fig. 2, and designed for the support of the concrete H, its peculiar form exposing less surface of metal to the action of lire from above than any other.v Irepresents the iron lath-suspender,

(shown in section in Fig. 7 and longitudinally in Fig. 6,) the said suspender being riveted tothe lower edgeof the beam, and punched in the manner shown, and at convenient intervals, for the reception of the lath J. The edge ot' the suspender below the laths is turned at a right anglel (see Fig. 7) for the purpose oi' giving lateral sti'ness, and also to prevent the samei'rom extending down through the plastering. J, Fig. 6, is a full section of the lath, shown as resting in and supported by the suspender I, the saine being shown longitudiallyl in Fig.7, and the manner of connecting the `laths at the joints, by slipping one into the other, is there clearly shown.

It will be seen that this mode of constructing fire-proof` floors and ceilings obviates the necessity for top and bottom iianges, as inthe ordinary I-beam, the bottom flange in thatv case being required to carry the brick arch, and the top ange to resist compression and give lateral strength. It also obviates the necessity for brick arches, thereby materially reducing the weight upon the walls of the building. It also dispenses with the use of any wood, except door-boards, in the construetion of either floor or ceiling.

The corrugated iron G, extending between the door-beams throughout their entire length and being riveted to the ange (.l, gives great lateral strength, and eiectually removes the possibility of buckling.

The space above the corrugated iron G is filled with the concrete Hflush to the top of the grooves B. The iloorF is then laid down and held in position by the nail or dog E, the upward inclination of the point of the said nail being intended by the act of driving to dra-w the oor F hard upon the iron grooved plate B and the concrete H.

The iron latin-suspender I- is designed to be used in both iron and wooden construction, being riveted to the beam in one case, and nailed to the wooden joists in the other, the same to be used in connection with the iron laths.

The iron laths J, Fig. 6, being placed in position, the space above the same and between the beams is designed to be lled with coarse concrete, K, Fig. 1, to such depth as may bemthougbt proper, the said concrete dropping down between the laths J and resting upon them, thus presenting a rough and jagged surface beneath, which, in connection with the hollow laths, so made to form the key ofthe plastering L, Fig. l, securely holds the same in position, and thoroughly incorporates the plastering with the concrete above, which thus becomes, in effect, a solid mass of mortar, entirely surrounding the laths, etfectually protecting the same from the action oi' fire, either from above or below, the peculiar form of the laths giving them great strength.

It will also be clearly seen that for warehouse construction, and for all cases where a plastered ceiling is unnecessary, this mode of fire-proofing can be appropriately used Without ceiling, the bottom ofthe beam being ornamented with suitable galvanized-iron moldings or otherwise, the whole being well and tastefully painted.

The depth of the vertical ribs in the corrugatediron sheets may be varied to suit cir cumstances, being increased as the space between beams is increased, and in proportion to the stiffness of oor required.

The iron laths are intended to be made in length about one inch greater than the distance between beam centers, and to project through the suspenders about one-half an inch, the next length of laths being pressed together with the hand, and forced into the lastmentioned lath a sufeient distance to clear the next suspender, and then drawn through the said suspender about one-half inch, as aforesaid, the Whole ceiling being thus supported without nails.

We make no claim to the originality of the idea of using corrugated iron between beams; neither do we claim the idea of using iron beams or iron laths.

lVhat we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The plates B for securing the liooring to the beams, arranged as described, supported upon said beams by the flanges D, and having also angcs C for the support of the corrugated plates G oi the looring, as described.

2. The grooved plat-es B of the beams A, in combination with the dogs or nails E, constructed and applied to said plates andthe ooring, as described, as a means for securing the flooring to said beams, as described.

3. The perforated lath-suspender I for securing and suspending the laths to the beam A, as described.

4. A metallic lath, hollow and heart-shaped in its crosssection, and open at the bottom, as and for the purpose described.

5. In a tire-proot'ilooring, the combination, with the beamsA of the grooved flanged plates B, sliding knee-dogs E, the corrugated-metal plates G, hollow open laths J, and their perforated suspender I, the several parts being constructed and arranged essentially as described.

- ISAAC HODGSON. Witnesses: WlLLlAM H. BROWN.

EDGAR J. HoDGsoN, ARTHUR Davis. 

